Work and Energy: Potential and Kinetic Energy
Explore the fundamental concepts of potential and kinetic energy through interactive experiments. Observe how energy transforms from one form to another while the total mechanical energy remains conserved.
Help & Instructions
▼- Pendulum Experiment: Observe energy conversion in a swinging pendulum
- Ramp Experiment: Watch potential energy convert to kinetic energy as a ball rolls down a ramp
- Adjust parameters like height and mass to see how they affect energy
- Monitor the energy bar to see the conservation of mechanical energy
- Use the reset button to restart experiments
- Understand the concepts of potential and kinetic energy
- Observe energy conversion in real-time
- Learn about the conservation of mechanical energy
- Explore how mass and height affect potential energy
- Understand how velocity affects kinetic energy
Experiment 1: The Swinging Pendulum
Observe how potential energy converts to kinetic energy and back again in a swinging pendulum.
Experiment 2: The Rolling Ball Ramp
Watch potential energy convert to kinetic energy as a ball rolls down a ramp.
Energy can neither be created nor destroyed, only converted from one form to another. In these experiments, we observe gravitational potential energy converting to kinetic energy and vice versa, while the total mechanical energy remains constant (ignoring friction and air resistance).
The Physics of Work and Energy
Potential Energy (PE) is stored energy due to position:
- Gravitational PE = m × g × h (mass × gravity × height)
- Measured in Joules (J)
- Increases with height and mass
Kinetic Energy (KE) is energy of motion:
- Kinetic Energy = ½ × m × v² (half × mass × velocity squared)
- Measured in Joules (J)
- Increases with mass and velocity squared
In isolated systems with only conservative forces:
- Total Mechanical Energy = Potential Energy + Kinetic Energy
- PE + KE = Constant (ignoring non-conservative forces like friction)
- When PE decreases, KE increases by the same amount
- When KE decreases, PE increases by the same amount
Understanding energy conversion is essential in:
- Roller coasters (potential to kinetic energy conversion)
- Hydroelectric dams (water's potential energy to electrical energy)
- Pendulum clocks (regular energy conversion for timekeeping)
- Sports (converting body's chemical energy to kinetic energy)
